Terminal for electrical conductors



Nov. 24, 1942. c. .1. HACKBARTH TERMINAL FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS FiledDec. 21, 1940 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 24, 1942 TERMINAL FOR ELECTRICALCONDUCTORS Carl J. Hackbarth, Baltimore, Md., assignor to WesternElectric Company, Incorporated,.New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application December 21, 1940, Serial No 371,113

3 Claims.

This invention relates to terminals for electrical conductors and moreparticularly to terminals for insulated multi-strand cords.

In attaching terminals to insulated cords having multiple strandconductors in the past it has been the practice in many instances toattach the terminals without removing the insulation, contact being madewith the conductor by a prong or prongs on the terminals piercing theinsulation. However, in many cases a satisfactoz y contact did notresult.

An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal for aninsulated conductor providing effective electrical contact with theconductor.

In accordance with-one embodiment of the invention a terminal isprovided having, in addition to a prong, overformed serrations whichalso pierce the insulation and insure a satisfactory electrical contact.v

A complete understanding of the invention may be had'by reference to thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accomsition toattach a terminal member to a multiple strand tinsel conductor cord;

ing'to the number of V-shaped projections 8 on the terminal member. Asthe upper die member 13 is brought down, it is preceded by a resilientmember not shown which forces the cord into the open arms'of theU-shaped terminal member and causes the prongs 9 to pierce theinsulation. Upon further movement of the upper die, the U-shaped armsare formed around the cord and the projections H in the upper die memberoverform the projections 8 of the terminal member causing theseprojections to also piece the insulation and make contact with thestrands themselves. It will be seen as shown in Fig. 2 that theoverformed projections 8 also contact the prongs 9 and cause the prongsto more positively engage the strands of the conductor to make a goodelectrical contact therewith. In this manner dependable and effectivecontact may be made between the terminal member and a conductor in acord without previously removing the insulation from the end of theconductor or the cord.

It will be understood that the nature and embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed is merely illustrative and that many changes andmodifications may be made therein without de- Fig. 2 is a similar viewshowing the terminal member formed about the conductor cord;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a conductor cord with the terminal attached;

Fig. 4 is a plan view 01' a terminal as shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a terminal blank.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, Fig. 5 shows a terminalblank 3 in a plan development. Prior to attaching the terminal member toa cord the blank is formed into a U-shape as shown in Fig. 1, and prongs8 are bent upwardly at right angles to the portion 01 the blank fromwhich they are stamped. The function oi the prongs 8 is to pierce theinsulation ID on the cord and also the insulation on the individualmultiple strands of the conductor and make electrical contact with thestrands of the conductor as the terminal member is attached to the cordby means of a die. However, in many cases the electrical contact thusmade has not been satisfactory. An unattached terminal member isprovided with V-shaped projections 8 which alternate with similarindentations I2.

In attaching a terminal member to a multiple strand conductor cordcovered with insulation the terminal member is placed in upper and lowerdie members it and a cord 4 is placed between the arms oi the U-shapedterminal member. The upper die member is provided with a plurality ofdownward projections ll correspondparting from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of an insulated conductor and a split tubular sheetmetal terminal member surrounding an insulated portion of saidconductor, projecting ,portions on the adjoining edges oi said member,the projecting portions being overformed and penetrating the insulationof the conductor to make electrical contact with the conductor.

2. The combination of an insulated conductor and a split tubular sheetmetal terminal member surrounding an insulated portion of saidconductor, the adjoining edges of said member having complementaryV-shaped projections and recesses, said V-shaped projections piercingthe insulatlon of the conductor and being in electrical contact with theconductor.

3. The combination of'an insulated conductor and a split tubular sheetmetal terminal member surrounding an insulated portion of saidconductor, upstanding prongs projecting from the central portion of saidmember and piercing the insulation 01' said conductor to make electricalcontact with the conductor, the adjoining edges of the member havingcomplementary V-shaped projections and recesses, the V-shapedprojections extending through the insulation and into electrical contactwith the conductor.

CARL J. HACKBARTH.

